Once we were done with the mass, we were allowed back outside. Whilst the others wandered around the town, I took this opportunity to practice my acoustic. 'Oh, damn.' I thought to myself. I left my pick in the truck. Yes, it matters.

I made my way back to the truck and hit the un-lock button on the starter. Nothing happened. I tried it again, still nothing. I had to manually open the door to get in, and then I thought to myself, why didn't the door open? I put the key in the truck and turned it. The engine didn't even rev. Oh, fuck.

I made my way back to my family and Josh. When I found them, Lily was air-drumming whilst Josh and Shane were talking. Every so often Josh would turn red.

"What are you doing to that poor boy?" I asked Shane.

"I am telling him facts of life that he ought to know" he replied smoothly. I looked over at Josh.

"He's telling me what I should know about religion if I was to be gay." Josh explained.

"Wait, what? Since when were you gay?" Lily asked.

"Let's see…maybe…junior year of high school?" Josh guessed.

"Cool story, bro. Anyways, the truck won't start. So we're stuck here." I told them.

"What?" They all said in unison.

"Objects from beyond will be found of no use here," a masculine voice spoke out. A guy stepped out from around the corner. He looked almost exactly like Shane; tan body, firm build, tall, the only difference was his hair and eyes. Shane had black hair and blue eyes, but he had these special contacts that changed your eye color. He chose red. The boy on the other hand had strawberry blonde hair and brown eyes.

"And why is that?" Lily asked.

"Because, HE won't allow it."

"He who?" Shane prompted.

"Want to see for yourselves?" he taunted.


We followed the boy for a while until we reached a museum. It, like the rest of the town, was old and worn down. The boy walked up to the museum and held the door open for us. Shane went in, than Lily, Josh blushed as he passed him, and I went last.

"So what's your name, Blondie?" I asked. Was it weird that he hadn't said his name yet?

Yes, yes it is.

Oh, hello voice! Are you mad about me not listening to you? Because it really didn't make a difference.

"My name is Oliver," said the boy, "and you are?"

I pointed to everyone as I said their names, "This is Lily and Shane, Josh is the one that's blushing, and my name is Cecelia. But everyone calls me Sissy."

Oliver nodded and proceeded into the museum with everyone else. Oliver led us into a room with lots of pictures. He told us they were the creators and the honorable mentions of Silent Hill.

"And this," he told us as he stopped in front of a picture, "is Judgment."

We all crowded around the picture. It looked really old, a painting maybe? There was a man in the center of the picture; he had a pyramid shaped helmet that covered his entire head and he carried a large blade. He wore a skirt made out of questionable material that was stained with, what appeared to be, blood. There were cages and chains in the background; it looked pretty, what's a good word, post-apocalyptic.

"Why is he called 'Judgment'?" Josh asked.

"Because he judged you." Oliver stated matter of factly.

I rolled my eyes and turned around. There was an archway that lead into an empty room.

Go in it, I dare you.

What the hell, voice? I took my guitar off my back and used it as a walking stick; I always did this when I'm nervous.

I walked into the center of the room, nothing special happened. Shane called me then.

"What did you find, Sissy?" he asked.

I took a step forward when suddenly, crack. The floor gave out from under me. I think I heard my name, but I wasn't sure.


I hit the ground hard and coughed a bit. I opened my eyes to see a circle about thirty feet above me. I could see Shane and Josh's faces on both sides of the circle. What? Oh, I'm in a hole.

"Sissy? Cecelia? Can you hear me?" Shane called to me, his voice bouncing painfully off the walls.

"Yeah, I'm okay." This, of course, was a lie, but I'm in a hole, so arguments are invalid.

"Is there any way she can get out of there?" I heard Oliver ask.

"No," I called back up as I looked around; then I saw a door. "Just kidding, there is a door here."

Then, the sirens went off; the 'darkness' was coming.

"Guys, we have to go!" Oliver shouted,

"We aren't just going to leave…" Shane started to argue, but I cut him off.

"Shane, just go. I'll catch up with you in the church." I told him calmly.

I saw pain in his face as he left. I looked around me, and to my delight, my guitar had survived the fall. I picked it up and slung it over my back before heading through the door.


I walked through a labyrinth of a tunnel for what seemed to be hours; it was starting to get obnoxious. Eventually, I found another door. I opened it slowly; in the other side, there were all sorts of weapons and torture devices. The most lethal looking one, though, was the gigantic blade on the table in the center. I walked over to it, examining it slowly and carefully. It appeared to be an over sized kitchen knife. I tried to lift it, but it was too heavy. You would have to be ridiculously strong to lift that thing.

Hide! Hide now!

No; fuck you, voice. You got me here, separated me from my family; there is no way I'm listening to you ever again.

Thud, screech. Thud, screech. Thud, screech.

The sound was heard over and over again. It wouldn't have really bothered me much, but it was getting louder as it progressed; meaning, whatever was making the noise was getting closer. I looked frantically around the room for a place to hide; there was none. I looked at the door; it opened inwards and to the left. If I hid behind the door, whatever walked in wouldn't see me. My logic was good enough to make me scramble over to the door and position myself and wait for the, well, whatever was making the noises.

The sounds subsided and the door opened. I was well hidden, thanks to my logic, so he couldn't see me as he walked in. The 'he' I am referring to, was Judgment.

He looked exactly like the picture, but a lot bigger; I would guesstimate around…maybe six feet tall? I was so absorbed in what I was seeing that I didn't even notice he turned around; that is until, he started coming towards me. I tried to get through the door, but Judgment grabbed my shoulder and pulled me back. His other hand grabbed my neck; he started to lift all five feet and seven inches of me into the air, one handed, whilst suffocating me.

I was done for, and I knew it. He was going to kill me, so why fight it? I heard a strange sound; my guitar had brushed against the door knob. Then, I hit the ground. I was gasping and coughing, trying to catch my breath. I looked up at Judgment, who had his, um, head tilted to the side; he looked like he was curious about the sound.

Once I caught my breath, I took my guitar off my back. I played a cord and looked up. He was staring at the guitar.

"Haven't you ever heard a guitar before?" I asked. I instantly regretted it, because now his attention was back on me. He didn't attack me again, like I thought he would. Instead, he reached out and ran his fingers across the guitar strings. He seemed pleased with himself that he made my guitar make a sound.

He looked back at me and did some elaborate hand signal that I didn't understand. I heard him let out an agitated sigh. He pointed at the guitar, then at me, and then he held his hand horizontally and moved it in a circle.

"You want me…to continue playing?" I guessed. I was a bit surprised when he nodded; not because he nodded, but because I guessed right.

The whole time I played a bunch of songs that sound really good via acoustic, (i.e. Swing Life Away by Rise Against) he watched me. When I was done my third song, he grabbed my arm. I let out a surprised squeak as he pulled me to my feet. He motioned for me to follow him; so I did.

It was a little strange; when he walked, there was only a 'thud' not a 'thud, screech'. Maybe he was dragging his blade on the ground or something. After a bit of walking, we reached a ladder. He pointed at me, then at the ladder.

"Do I get out through here?" I asked. He nodded and handed me a piece of paper. I went to look at it, but he stopped me. He pushed me gently towards the ladder. I put the note in my pocket before I climbed up the ladder, stopping halfway to look down; he was gone. I was sad; I might not ever see him again. But then I thought of my family at the church and continued my way up the ladder.

I reached the top fairly soon. It led to a manhole in the middle of the street in front of Nelly's Bar. I knew where that was; the church was just around the corner. The thought of my family made my sprint all the way to the church.


I opened the big, heavy, doors to the church to see everyone was in prayer; or at least they were, until everyone turned to look at me. I could see Shane and Lily sitting next to each other. Josh and Oliver were also sitting scandalously close together. What did I miss?

"Sissy!" Lily shrieked as she ran towards me. "We were so worried!" She was crying as she hugged me.

Shane and Josh ran up to me next; they hugged me also. Shane looked at me funny.

"What?" I asked him.

"What happened to your neck?" he asked, worry flooding his voice.

My neck? Oh, were there hand marks there?

"I, uh, I don't know." I lied. Dad used to say, ignorance is bliss.

I looked at everyone in the church; they were glaring at me with that hate that makes things spontaneously combust. Hmm, déjà vu.

Oliver came up to me next. He looked at me with fear in his big brown eyes.

"We're all really glad you're okay and all," he started, "But you can't be here anymore."

"What?" Lily, Shane and I said in unison.

"You belong to the darkness now," Oliver cringed as Christabella shouted; "this is your only chance to exit our sanctuary. If you do not leave, you will be burned by the stake, as a witch!"

"Now hold on…" Josh protested.

"No, its okay," I told him. It wasn't really okay but I could sleep in the truck. I turned my attention to Christabella and said, "Just let them stay here, and I'll take my leave."

She reluctantly agreed and I left the church. They actually had to hold Shane and Josh to keep them from coming after me. But as long as they're safe, I could manage.

I went to the truck and hopped into the bed. I opened up the tool box and pulled out two pillows and a blanked. Yeah, I came prepared. I set up my little bed and then I remembered; Judgment gave me a note. I reached into my pocket and pulled out the piece of paper. It read:

"Do not trust the church; do not believe their lies. Only trust your friends. -"

I assumed the line was meant to be his name. Didn't he know his name? Or did the people of the town just tag him with something? So many questions, so little time. I wanted to investigate a little before sleeping for the night. I walked down Nathan Avenue until I came to the turn that leads out of Silent Hill; or at least, it was the road. The 'You are now leaving Silent Hill' sign had been sprayed white, and in black letters read: There was a road here, it's gone now.